Tuesday, March 17, 2026

4.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Islamabad, Rawalpindi and KP areas

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake shook Islamabad, Rawalpindi and several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday at around 9:27 am, according to he report.

Tremors were also felt in areas including Haripur, Khanpur, and Swabi.

The earthquake measured 4.5 on the Richter scale, as confirmed by the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Officials said the epicenter was located in the northern region and the shaking continued for a few seconds.

Many residents felt their homes and offices shaking, prompting some people to move outside as a safety precaution. Local authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or building damage.

Experts said moderate earthquakes are fairly common in northern Pakistan because of tectonic plate movement in the Himalayan region and advised people to stay calm and follow safety guidelines.

Earlier, a stronger 5.6 magnitude earthquake had hit parts of northern Pakistan on Friday. The quake was recorded by the National Seismic Monitoring Centre.

The Friday earthquake had a depth of 73 kilometres, with the epicenter located in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan.

Tremors were felt in many areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and multiple districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, Mardan, Lower Dir, Malakand, Chitral, Khyber, Bara, Jamrud, Landi Kotal and Tirah.

In several cities, residents rushed out of homes and offices in fear while reciting prayers as the shaking subsided. Authorities stated that there were no immediate reports of deaths or property damage and relevant departments are still reviewing the situation.